He began his career in journalism in 1979 as a reporter on the Limerick Leader, before moving to the national daily newspaper, The Irish Press.

His first taste of broadcasting was with Radio and Television Eire, where he was a reporter and presenter from 1984 to 1987, later reporting from Belfast for the station.

Fergal Keane joined the BBC in 1989 as Northern Ireland Correspondent.

In August 1990, he was appointed Southern Africa Correspondent, after having covered the regions during the early 1980’s. It is probably with this region that he is most strongly associated.

Fergal’s reports covered the township unrest in South Africa, Mandela’s increasing popularity and the first multi-racial elections following the end of apartheid.

During this time he travelled the length and breadth of the country from the white farms of the Northern Transvaal to the vast townships of the Witwatersand. From this experience he wrote a book The Bondage of Fear primarily about the experience of ordinary South Africans as history propelled them towards a new uncharted country.

As Southern Africa correspondent he also covered the civil war in Rwanda.

In 1995, Fergal Keane became the BBC’s Asia correspondent, covering all the main stories in the region; from the Tokyo gas attacks in January of that year until the handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule on July 1st 1997.

Fergal Keane is a regular columnist with The Independent newspaper and a columnist with Traveller magazine. He also writes occasionally for The Spectator.

Keane’s reporting has attracted widespread critical acclaim which has led to a number of awards including:

Royal Television Society Journalist of the Year

BAFTA

Sony Radio Reporter of the Year

Voice of the Viewer and Listener Award

George Orwell Prize

Bayeux Prize for War Correspondents

Edward R Murrow Award for War Reporting

Human Rights Journalist of the Year

Amnesty International

One World Media Award

Index on Censorship Award for Outstanding Commitment to Journalistic Integrity